ICAO Standard Phraseology a Quick Reference Guide for Commercial
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ICAO Standard Phraseology A Quick Reference Guide for Commercial Air Transport Pilots Communication error is the biggest causal factor in both level busts and runway incursions in Europe. This document aims to provide Commercial Air Transport (CAT) pilots and other pilots flying IFR within controlled airspace with a quick reference guide to commonly used radiotelephony (RTF) phrases that may be encountered during a routine CAT flight in European Airspace. ICAO Phraseology Reference Guide ALL CLEAR AGC safety initiative Introduction Communication error is the biggest causal factor in both level busts and runway incursions in Europe. This document aims to provide Commercial Air Transport (CAT) pilots and other pilots flying IFR within controlled airspace with a quick reference guide to commonly used radiotelephony (RTF) phrases that may be encountered during a routine CAT flight in European Airspace. It also explains some of the rationale behind the use of certain words and phrases to aid understanding and reinforce the need for compliance with standard phraseology. The goal is to improve safety by raising RTF standards. The need for clear and unambiguous communication between pilots and Air Traffic Control (ATC) is vital in assisting the safe and expeditious operation of aircraft. It is important, therefore, that due regard is given to the use of standard words and phrases and that all involved ensure that they maintain the highest professional standards when using RTF. This is especially important when operating within busy sectors with congested frequencies where any time wasted with verbosity and non-standard, ambiguous phrases could lead to flight safety incidents. Phraseology has evolved over time and has been carefully developed to provide maximum clarity and brevity in communications while ensuring that phrases are unambiguous. However, while standard phraseology is available to cover most routine situations, not every conceivable scenario will be catered for and RTF users should be prepared to use plain language when necessary following the principle of keeping phrases clear and concise. ICAO Phraseology Reference Guide 2 ALL CLEAR AGC safety initiative Contents 1. Clearance and Taxi 2. Take-off and Departure 3. Read-back 4. Climb, Cruise and Descent 5. Approach and Landing 6. Emergency Communications Note: This document uses RTF examples showing both pilot (denoted by blue italic text) and ATCO (denoted by grey text) communication. For example: Pilot - Metro Ground, Big Jet 345, request taxi ATC - Big Jet 345, Metro Ground, taxi to holding point A1, hold short of Runway 18 ICAO Phraseology Reference Guide 3 ALL CLEAR AGC safety initiative CLEARANCE AND TAXI ICAO Phraseology Reference Guide 4 ALL CLEAR AGC safety initiative Taxiing - A Safety Critical Activity RTF is crucial to the safety of the flight during taxiing. Any mistake that causes the aircraft to enter a runway in error could be catastrophic. Taxi Clearance Limit All taxi clearances will contain a clearance limit, which is the point at which the aircraft must stop unless further permission to proceed is given. Noting Down Taxi Clearances Complex or lengthy taxi clearances should be noted down by crews. RTF Taxi Instructions to Departure Runway Metro Ground, Big Jet 345, request taxi Big Jet 345, Metro Ground, taxi to holding point C, runway 27 Taxi to holding point C, runway 27, Big Jet 345 Big Jet 345, contact Metro Tower 119.2 Contact Metro Tower 119.2, Big Jet 345 Crossing an Intermediate Runway If a taxi route involves crossing a runway, whether active or not, specific clearance to cross that runway is required. Departure Delay Information Departure sequence information such as ‘number 5 to depart’ or ‘expect departure in …’ is NOT a take-off clearance. RTF Taxiing Across an Intermediate Runway Metro Ground, Big Jet 345, request taxi Big Jet 345, Metro Ground, taxi to holding point A1 runway 18 Taxi to holding point A1 runway 18, Big Jet 345 When traffic permits Big Jet 345 cross runway 18 at A1, taxi to holding point C, runway 27 Cross runway 18 at A1, taxi to holding point C, runway 27, Big Jet 345 ICAO Phraseology Reference Guide 5 ALL CLEAR AGC safety initiative NB: ATC may request Big Jet to confirm when Runway 18 is vacated A Conditional Taxi Clearance Conditional clearances may expedite traffic flow, but there are risks. Read-back must be in full and in the same sequence as given. A taxi clearance, shown below, allows taxi after another action has first taken place ie. the condition of the clearance. Where there may be ambiguity as to the subject of the condition, additional details such as livery and/or colour are given to aid identification. A conditional taxi clearance allows the aircraft to taxi only after another action has taken place. The structure and order of conditional clearances is essential to their safe execution. Correct read-back of a conditional clearance is vital. Metro Delivery, Big Jet 345, Stand Bravo 1, Boeing 737 with information Q, QNH1006, request clearance Big Jet 345, Metro Delivery, Cleared to Smallville, T1A departure, Squawk 3456, slot time 1905 Cleared to Smallville, T1A, Squawk 3456, Big Jet 345 Big Jet 345, request start up Big Jet 345, start up approved, contact Metro Ground 118.750 for taxi instructions Start up approved, contact Metro Ground 118.750 for taxi instructions, Big Jet 345 Metro Ground, Big Jet 345 Stand B1, request taxi Big Jet 345, Metro Ground, after the red and white Antonov with the purple fin, taxi to holding point runway 08 After the red and white Antonov with the purple fin, taxi to holding point runway 08, Big Jet 345 ICAO Phraseology Reference Guide 6 ALL CLEAR AGC safety initiative *ICAO: In all cases a conditional clearance shall be given in the following order and consist of: 1. Identification; 2. The condition 3. The clearance; and 4. Brief reiteration of the condition Conditional clearance to cross the intermediate runway: Conditional phrases, such as “behind landing aircraft” or “after departing aircraft”, shall not be used for movements affecting the active runway(s), except when the aircraft or vehicles concerned are seen by the appropriate controller and pilot. The aircraft or vehicle causing the condition in the clearance issued shall be the first aircraft/vehicle to pass in front of the other aircraft concerned. NB: Beware - the ICAO phrase ‘behind’ has been misinterpreted as an instruction to ‘get close to’ the preceding aircraft, leading to serious jet blast incidents. Big Jet 345, after landing Airbus 321, cross Runway 09 at C2, after After landing Airbus 321, cross Runway 09 at C2 after, Big Jet 345 Then: Big Jet 345, taxi to holding point C1, runway 27 Taxi to holding point C1, runway 27, Big Jet 345 Then: Big Jet 345, contact Metro Tower 123.625 Contact Metro Tower 123.625, Big Jet 345 ICAO Phraseology Reference Guide 7 ALL CLEAR AGC safety initiative TAKE OFF AND DEPARTURE ‘Take-off’ shall only be used when issuing a clearance to take-off. § Do not use phrases such as ‘prior to take-off’ or ‘after take-off’. § If the controller uses ‘after departure’ or ‘follow’, this is NOT a clearance to take-off. Any instructions to HOLD, HOLD POSITION or HOLD SHORT OF, shall be read back in full using the appropriate phrase – HOLDING or HOLD SHORT OF. In the airport environment, the word ‘cleared’ shall only be used in connection with a clearance to take-off or land. To aid clarity, a take-off clearance will always be issued separately. RTF Take-off Clearance Metro Tower, Big Jet 345, approaching holding point C1 Big Jet 345, Metro Tower, line up runway 27 Lining up runway 27, Big Jet 345 Big Jet 345, runway 27, cleared for take-off Cleared for take-off, Big Jet 345 Once airborne: Big Jet 345, contact Metro Radar 124.6 Contact Metro Radar on 124.6, Big Jet 345 Amendment to Departure Clearance Amendments to departure clearances are known to contribute to runway incursion incidents. The phraseology for amendments to departure clearances where the aircraft is approaching the runway will begin with ‘hold position’. ICAO Phraseology Reference Guide 8 ALL CLEAR AGC safety initiative RTF Amendment to Departure Clearance Metro Tower, Big Jet 345, approaching holding point C1 Big Jet 345, Metro Tower, hold at C1 Hold at C1, Big Jet 345 Big Jet 345, hold position, amendment to clearance, T3F departure, climb to 6000 feet Holding, T3F departure, climb to 6000 feet, Big Jet 345 Or: Big Jet 345 hold position, after departure climb to altitude 6000 feet Holding, after departure climb to 6000 feet, Big Jet 345 Conditional Line-Up Clearance Important points involving the active runway: § The condition is always given directly after the call-sign and before the clearance. § Conditional clearances must be read back in full and in exactly the same sequence as given plus a brief reiteration of the condition. § The aircraft or vehicle that is the subject of the condition must be visible to the flight crew and the controller. § The subject aircraft or vehicle of the condition shall be the next aircraft/vehicle to pass. § The condition must relate to only one movement. § Always clarify if unsure. RTF A Conditional Line Up Clearance Metro Tower, Big Jet 345, approaching holding point C1 Big Jet 345, Metro Tower, hold at C1 Hold at C1, Big Jet 345 Conditional line up clearance: Big Jet 345, behind landing Boeing 757, line up runway 27, behind Behind landing Boeing 757, line up runway 27, behind, Big Jet 345 ICAO Phraseology Reference Guide 9 ALL CLEAR AGC safety initiative Cancelling Take-off Clearance If take-off clearance has to be cancelled before the take-off roll has commenced, the flight crew shall be instructed to hold position, stating reason.